How to Install Galaxy S9 ROM on Galaxy S8/S8 Plus!

If you want to load up the Galaxy S9 software on your Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus to convert your phone to a full Galaxy S9, here’s a step-by-step guide even a complete noob can follow. In this tutorial, we will be installing the Sac23 S9 Ported ROM for the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus.

Step 1. Installing this ROM from a stock phone will ERASE EVERYTHING on your Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus so PLEASE MAKE A BACKUP OF EVERYTHING! Contents of your microSD card will not be affected. You can use Smart Switch app to backup your apps and app data. I HIGHLY recommend using a microSD card.

Step 2. Go to Settings->About phone and make sure your model number is supported.

Supported models:

Galaxy S8 SM-G950F, SM-G950FD, Korean SM-G950N

Galaxy S8+ SM-G955F, SM-G955FD, Korean SM-G955N

Step 3. Tap on “Software Information” menu then tap on “Build number” about 5 times until it says, “Developer options have been enabled”.

Step 4. Tap the back button twice and you will see a new menu option called, “Developer options”. Tap on that and make sure “OEM unlock” is checked ON. Now, if you’ve had your Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus for less than 7 days, you may have to wait a few more days for this option to show up as Samsung has put a 7-day delay. (Tip: Another way to bypass this is to flash Nougat bootloader, grab any Nougat firmware and flash the file starting with “BL” in the BL section of ODIN, then you won’t have to wait 7 days.)

Step 5. Power off your S8/S8 Plus then hold down Volume Down, Bixby, and Power buttons together for about 5 seconds until you see a warning screen.

Step 6. Hit the Volume Up key to put into ODIN Download mode then connect a USB cable from your phone to a Windows computer. You will need a Windows computer to do this. If you don’t have one, just go borrow one from your friend or neighbor.

Step 8. Extract/unzip the ODIN zip file then run the ODIN exe program. You should see a blue-highlighted box with a random COM number. If you don’t see it, run the Samsung USB driver program you downloaded earlier and you should see it after replugging the USB cable.

VERY IMPORTANT, make sure you are ready to hold down the Volume Up, Bixby, and Power buttons as soon as your phone reboots after hitting “Start”.

If you mess up this setup, you may end up in a BOOTLOOP and have to wait 7 days before trying again!!! So, PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL at least 3 times if this is the first time you are doing this!!!

Step 10. Once in TWRP recovery, choose “Keep Read Only”.

Step 11. Use the Wipe menu and do a data wipe. This will erase EVERYTHING on your phone!(except your microSD card)

Step 12. Reboot into recovery using the Recovery menu.

Step 13. Once rebooted into TWRP, choose “Read only” again then copy over the ROM file, fix, No Verify Opt Encrypt, and RMM State Bypass files to your phone.

Step 14. Install the ROM first.

Then install the No Verify Opt Encrypt.

Then reboot back into recovery like before.

Step 14. You should be back in TWRP without having the “read only” option. Install the RMM State Bypass file and reboot.

Step 15. Once booted, sign in.

After signing in, reboot into recovery using the Power button.

Step 16. Install the last file, the fix for the ROM and reboot.

Step 17. Once rebooted, you should have a fully-working Galaxy S9 ROM on your Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus.

Credits – XDA – You can donate to XDA developer Sac23 if you end up using this ROM as daily driver, please buy him a beer thanks! [Donate Link]

Q&A

Q: I messed up and ended up in a bootloop! How do I fix it?
A: Please follow our unroot guide.

If you want to see the features of this Galaxy S9 ROM, check out this video:

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Notable Replies

Hi there, I was just curious with regard to the video you posted about Installing S9 Rom to S8. You mentioned there specifically at 3:18 that when it says OEM Lock is Off we’re good to go. Mine says OEM Lock: OFF but no option on Developer Options to OEM Unlock yet since I messed up my rooting earlier and I’ll have to wait 7 days. I just want to know if its safe to install this S9 ROM?

Hi. Ive installed the S9 ROM on my G950N and it seems to work well with one exception.
My KT SIM card no longer works and I suspect its locked by KT to a KT End User data.
Is there a fix for this?
Thanks for all the good on this ROM.

Okay thanks I wont do that then.
I have successfully hidden the root from my Korean banking apps(and others).

In a thread above you suggest changing the CSC - how would you do that on this ROM? I need to have my phone look like its not rooted so Im looking to switch it to KTC CSC.
Or can you add other CSC’s to this ROM?

Hi There
I have installed the s9 conversion on the s8+. My device is a SM-G955F (South Africa version).
Unfortunately my modem is now not working with this conversion so I cannot make calls etc.
How do I go back to a normal S8+ firmware? Is that doable? Alternatively, how do I get the modem working?
I installed the correct version of the firmware – XFV. Thanks

Hi, im just curious why after rooting my phone. When i try to restart it or boot to recovery, its getting stock to the samsung logo and says “only officially released binaries are allowed to be flashed” and bricked my fone…. should i not reboot the system after rooting and go straight with flashing the custom rom?

This ROM is only showing the apps it installed with the ROM. I have downloaded others but they don’t show in the Apps Screen. Is there something in the Touchwiz to display all apps and add more app screens?